Newburgh comptroller warns of need for hiring freeze

CITY OF NEWBURGH – A revenue shortfall of more than $1 million has the City of Newburgh's comptroller prepared to recommend a hiring freeze if the trend continues.

John Aber told the City Council on Monday that the city is down $861,000 in property taxes, $277,000 in code compliance and $84,000 in parking and traffic violations.

Fire department overtime is down due to the grant-funded hiring of new firefighters, but the department's overtime budget is on pace for a deficit of $136,000, Aber said. Police overtime is projected to have a $319,000 deficit for the year, he said.

“If this trend continues, I will be recommending that we impose a hiring freeze,” Aber said.